Series cocreator Adam Horowitz confirmed on Twitter this morning that Season 4’s eighth episode, titled “Smash the Mirror,” will run a full two hours, starting at 8/7c. (Felicity, cancel my church choir practice for that night!)

Horowitz stressed that this “bonus” hour is completely incremental to the season’s 22-episode run (which like Season 3 will air in two 11-episode batches).

UPDATE: ABC has since released a synopsis for the double-dip:

In Arendelle, when the Snow Queen tries to pit Elsa and Anna against each other and it proves more difficult than she anticipates, she takes drastic measures. Meanwhile, in Storybrooke Emma’s powers are out of control and her fear of hurting loved ones pushes her away from everyone she cares about. In her confusion, Emma turns to Gold for help getting her powers under control. Gold tells her about a way to get rid of her powers altogether and Hook tries to put a stop to it. Meanwhile, Regina struggles with her plan to find the author of the storybook until her quest takes an unexpected turn. Robin Hood recruits Will Scarlet to assist him on a mission and Mary Margaret and David search for Emma.

What do you suspect “Smash the Mirror” relates to? Is Sidney Glass’ world about to be shattered? Or could it be in reference to Maleficent, who in her day possessed a compact looking glass and is due to play a role in Season 4B?

It wouldn’t be impossible to trim any script down. That’s what writers do all the time when doing their drafts. All this should tell people is that ABC has a lot of faith in the show to give it an extra episode to tell the story.

Horowitz mentioned on his twitter account that this season will have 23 episodes in response to someone who aimed a question at him. I think it’d be easier to refer to it as Episode 8 Part 1 and Part 2, 2 individual episodes.

There are many of us who could care less about the NFL. No, I don’t hate sports or football, but by Sunday night, I’m ready to put on my tiara and watch OUAT with my daughter rather than Tony Romo or even either of the Manning boys.

I’m not convinced, filming a bonus hour would count as an additional episode order in my book. Plus if they skip Thanksgiving week then the 11th episode would air mid-December and ABC usually tries to avoid that.

I’m betting ABC airs as two separate episodes, so that the lower rated hour (7/6) does not bring down the 8/7 hour, which is counted in regular season ratings. It will be labeled Part 1 & 2 for rating purposes.

I wish so badly somebody would tell us Hook fans in advance, if we will be losing Killian soon. I am so worried he’s about to be the next to go. I lobe it that Can O’Donoghue is on the slow. It is why I watch. I wish so bad, that somebody who really knows would tell us, if Colin is leaving Once. I know this sounds silly for it to be such a big deal for me, but it is. It is something weighing heavily on my heart and not just for Hook, nut for other reasons. :’o(

I wish so badly somebody would tell us Hook fans in advance, if we will be losing Killian soon. I am so worried he’s about to be the next to go. I love it that Can O’Donoghue is on the slow. It is why I watch. I wish so bad, that somebody who really knows would tell us, if Colin is leaving Once. I know this sounds silly for it to be such a big deal for me, but it is. It is something weighing heavily on my heart and not just for Hook, but for other reasons. :’o(

ABC gave many of their shows extra episodes this year. I suspect Adam and company took two separate episodes and squished them together because he get a whole new one to boot. So we’ll still have a full season.

Hmmm…why would you write “100% more Regina” in the title?
Is she really that popular? I’m frustrates with her constantly trying to shift responsibility for her situation on others
. What right does SHE have to be mad at anyone? Especially Emma, when Regina is the reason the former grew up an orphan? I’m really worried Regina’s popularity as a character has made the writers make it “easy” on her, erasing all the truly horrible things she did…Some of them not too long ago.